Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsAllergy vs. IntoleranceOther Types of Cinnamon AllergiesDiagnosisAllergy Management
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Allergy vs. Intolerance
Other Types of Cinnamon Allergies
Diagnosis
Allergy Management
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors spices to ensure their safety and issues alerts in case of contamination. However,cinnamoncan be present in consumer healthcare products, such as mouthwash, toothpaste, and fragrances, so it’s important to read ingredient labels.
Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman
Where Does Cinnamon Come From?Cinnamon spice is made fromCinnamomumtree bark. Its flavor and aroma come from anessential oilfrom the bark, particularly cinnamaldehyde.There are two major types of cinnamon: cassia and Ceylon. Ceylon is considered purer and is native to Sri Lanka and India. Cassia is more accessible, originates in China, and is most likely the one you buy in the grocery store.
Where Does Cinnamon Come From?
Cinnamon spice is made fromCinnamomumtree bark. Its flavor and aroma come from anessential oilfrom the bark, particularly cinnamaldehyde.There are two major types of cinnamon: cassia and Ceylon. Ceylon is considered purer and is native to Sri Lanka and India. Cassia is more accessible, originates in China, and is most likely the one you buy in the grocery store.
What Is a Cinnamon Allergy?
You can be allergic to almost anything, but when it comes to food, most people are allergic to nine types:
Spice allergiesmake up about 2% of all food allergies.If you’re allergic to cinnamon, ingesting, breathing in, or touching the spice may trigger an allergic reaction.
The symptoms of a truefood allergy, including one to cinnamon, may include:
These symptoms may occur within a few minutes to a few hours after coming in contact with the allergen.
Sometimes,anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction, can occur from coming in contact with an allergen. Anaphylaxis symptoms may include:
Anaphylaxis requires prompt treatment with anepinephrine peninjection and immediate medical attention. After administering the injection, go to your nearest emergency room for medical help.
Sometimes there might be confusion as to whether you have a food allergy or a food intolerance.
An allergy happens when your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or spice as harmful. Your body then releasesantibodiesto destroy the allergen.
An intolerance may cause similar symptoms as an allergy but no antibodies are present. You can still eat limited amounts of an allergen without an adverse reaction.
Intolerance symptoms are usually mild and may include:
It’s important to determine whether you have an allergy or intolerance because a true antibody reaction can be life-threatening.
Ingesting an allergen like cinnamon is a common way for an allergic reaction to happen. However, other non-life-threatening reactions can occur that still require a thorough evaluation.
Contact Dermatitis
Cinnamon can sometimes cause a non-life-threatening rash known ascontact dermatitis, which differs from a true allergy. Contact dermatitis usually results from the skin reacting to a substance.
Symptoms of contact dermatitis are less severe than a true allergy, typically presenting as a rash that looks like a sunburn with redness, peeling, and itching. Avoiding cinnamon and cinnamon-containing products is the best way to treat this rash.
Cinnamic aldehyde or cinnamaldehyde (the chemical compound that gives cinnamon its scent and flavor) likely causes contact dermatitis.This is considered an allergen in Europe and is required to be included on an ingredients list if it is present above a certain amount.
Diagnosing contact dermatitis can be confusing because the rash can occur a few days after your exposure to a cinnamon-containing product.
Consult your healthcare provider to find out if you can use a topical steroid on the rash to help it heal. Antihistamines may help with any itching, which is important to treat because itching may make the rash worse.
Stomatitis
Stomatitisis inflammation of the mouth or lips. Symptoms include pain, burning, ulcers, and mucosal peeling, among others. Generally, you would have had cinnamon in the past without a reaction before you tried it again and developed this oral irritation.
Besides eating cinnamon, you may have been exposed to the spice in daily products including mouthwash, toothpaste, cinnamon gum, or other products. Most reported cases of stomatitis from cinnamon are from toothpaste and gum.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relieverslike acetaminophen or ibuprofen, mouth rinses, and increasing your fluid intake can help ease the pain and inflammation that stomatitis can cause.
Diagnosing contact dermatitis or stomatitis is much different than diagnosing a food allergy. Apatch testis the most helpful step if you have a rash that resembles a sunburn. A patch test may also help detect what allergen could be causing your stomatitis.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Diagnosing a Cinnamon Food Allergy
To diagnose a cinnamon food allergy, your allergist can perform askin test(a painless prick test on your arms or back). A skin test involves pricking the skin with a sterile probe that contains a small amount of cinnamon extract.
Results usually come back within 15 to 30 minutes. If cinnamon extract is not available for the test, a blood test can be done, though skin testing is preferable.
If you have a positive skin test and had a previous reaction to cinnamon, you are likely allergic to the spice. Your allergist may prescribe an epinephrine pen and provide instructions on how and when to use it.
Your allergist may also recommend an oral food challenge to confirm your test results. An oral food challenge involves feeding you increasing amounts of cinnamon over a period of time under the strict supervision of your allergist.
Managing Your Cinnamon Allergy
Unfortunately, a lack of regulations on accurately labeling fragrances and spices makes it difficult to avoid cinnamon. The FDA allows cinnamon to be listed as “flavors,” “spices,” or “flavoring.” If you have an allergy, be vigilant in educating yourself about the foods you eat and the products you use, and talk to your family and friends about your diagnosis. It may help to keep a journal of foods or products that trigger symptoms.
Always read ingredient labels so you know what is in your food. For example, a five-spice blend may contain cinnamon. If dining out, let your wait staff know about your allergy, and always carry your epinephrine pen with you.
If you have contact dermatitis or stomatitis due to cinnamon, avoid topical products containing the spice. This may be challenging, but your allergist can recommend an appropriate skincare routine for you. Topical steroids or other creams (like tacrolimus) can help alleviate inflammation, andantihistaminescan help relieve the itch that comes with the rash.
Summary
Although rare, it’s possible to have a cinnamon allergy. There is no cure for food allergies. If you think you may be allergic, see an allergist. Your healthcare provider can help diagnose your condition with either a skin test, a patch test, or both. They will help guide you in managing your cinnamon allergy and how to be prepared in case of accidental ingestion.
Be sure to read the ingredients on product labels and ask about ingredients when eating at restaurants. It may help to keep a journal to track what triggers a reaction. Always carry an epinephrine auto-injector. If you use it, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest emergency department.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Isaac-renton M, Li MK, Parsons LM.Cinnamon spice and everything not nice: many features of intraoral allergy to cinnamic aldehyde.Dermatitis.2015;26(3):116-21. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000112Food and Drug Administration.Food allergies.Bahna SL, Burkhardt JG.The dilemma of allergy to food additives.InAllergy & Asthma Proceedings.2018;39(1).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Food Allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Can spices cause allergic reactions?MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.Calapai G, Miroddi M, Mannucci C, Minciullo P, Gangemi S.Oral adverse reactions due to cinnamon-flavoured chewing gums consumption.Oral Dis. 2014;20(7):637-643. doi:10.1111/odi.12170Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.Aphthous stomatitis (canker sores).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis.Additional ReadingUN Food and Agriculture Organization, Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT)Global cinnamon production in 2016; Crops/Regions/World Regions/Production Quantity (pick lists)2017.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Isaac-renton M, Li MK, Parsons LM.Cinnamon spice and everything not nice: many features of intraoral allergy to cinnamic aldehyde.Dermatitis.2015;26(3):116-21. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000112Food and Drug Administration.Food allergies.Bahna SL, Burkhardt JG.The dilemma of allergy to food additives.InAllergy & Asthma Proceedings.2018;39(1).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Food Allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Can spices cause allergic reactions?MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.Calapai G, Miroddi M, Mannucci C, Minciullo P, Gangemi S.Oral adverse reactions due to cinnamon-flavoured chewing gums consumption.Oral Dis. 2014;20(7):637-643. doi:10.1111/odi.12170Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.Aphthous stomatitis (canker sores).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis.Additional ReadingUN Food and Agriculture Organization, Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT)Global cinnamon production in 2016; Crops/Regions/World Regions/Production Quantity (pick lists)2017.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Isaac-renton M, Li MK, Parsons LM.Cinnamon spice and everything not nice: many features of intraoral allergy to cinnamic aldehyde.Dermatitis.2015;26(3):116-21. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000112Food and Drug Administration.Food allergies.Bahna SL, Burkhardt JG.The dilemma of allergy to food additives.InAllergy & Asthma Proceedings.2018;39(1).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Food Allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Can spices cause allergic reactions?MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.Calapai G, Miroddi M, Mannucci C, Minciullo P, Gangemi S.Oral adverse reactions due to cinnamon-flavoured chewing gums consumption.Oral Dis. 2014;20(7):637-643. doi:10.1111/odi.12170Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.Aphthous stomatitis (canker sores).American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis.
Isaac-renton M, Li MK, Parsons LM.Cinnamon spice and everything not nice: many features of intraoral allergy to cinnamic aldehyde.Dermatitis.2015;26(3):116-21. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000112
Food and Drug Administration.Food allergies.
Bahna SL, Burkhardt JG.The dilemma of allergy to food additives.InAllergy & Asthma Proceedings.2018;39(1).
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Food Allergy.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Can spices cause allergic reactions?
MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.
Calapai G, Miroddi M, Mannucci C, Minciullo P, Gangemi S.Oral adverse reactions due to cinnamon-flavoured chewing gums consumption.Oral Dis. 2014;20(7):637-643. doi:10.1111/odi.12170
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.Aphthous stomatitis (canker sores).
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis.
UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT)Global cinnamon production in 2016; Crops/Regions/World Regions/Production Quantity (pick lists)2017.
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